Press Release

Daily sessions for Philadelphia teens focus on early arts education to inspire creativity and connectivity

PHILADELPHIA — Asian Arts Initiative, a community-based arts center in Philadelphia, is seeking applications for its annual free Summer Youth Arts Workshop and Summer Youth Lounge. The weekday workshop sessions are hosted at the Initiative’s headquarters in Chinatown (1219 Vine St.) from July 9 to August 17. Led by professional teaching artists who serve as mentors for youth interested in the arts, the sessions are free and open to public, private and charter school students in grades six through 12.

Emphasizing cross-cultural exchange, the program welcomes youth from all backgrounds. Says Associate Director Pat Ma, “Asian Arts Initiative values being a place where any young person — artist or not — can come to explore, work with artists, be creative, try new things and meet new people.”

Providing a safe space for young Philadelphians to explore their art-making potential, the morning Summer Youth Arts Workshop (weekdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) allows middle-schoolers to explore and express their experiences and connect with others in their community. This summer’s projects, including Video Game Design & Creation, foster creativity through critical thinking, skill building and interpersonal relationship development. The workshops aim to help youth develop greater understanding of their own and others’ experiences, while honing their artistic skills and storytelling abilities. Past workshop projects have included theater, spoken word, yoga, screenprinting, creative writing, mural-making, breakdancing and many more.

The afternoon Summer Youth Lounge (weekdays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) allows high-schoolers to socialize and participate in less-structured afternoon workshops led by program coordinator John Park and his team of special guest artists and interns. Past Lounge workshops have focused on college prep, music, movies, art-making, video animation and more.

To register for the Summer Youth Arts Workshop or Summer Youth Lounge, parents can call John Park at 215-557-0455, ext. 228, or email john [at] asianartsinitiative [dot] org. Registration deadline is June 15, 2012.

About the client:

Connecting cultural expression and social change, Asian Arts Initiative uses art as a vehicle to explore the experiences of Asian Americans and the diverse communities of which we are a part.

Located in Philadelphia’s burgeoning Chinatown North neighborhood, Asian Arts Initiative is a multidisciplinary arts center offering exhibitions, performances, artist residencies, youth workshops, and a community gathering space. Here, all people — across experience and skill levels, age, race, and class backgrounds — can view and create art that reflects our lives, as well as think critically and creatively about the future we want to build for our communities.